Charles W. Morgan lined up for launch

Workers at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard lifted an extension ladder into place on the starboard side after rolling the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, Jun 24, 2013.

Mystic - Workers at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard lifted an extension ladder into place on the starboard side after rolling the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday.

On Wednesday, the ship will be rolled the 200-feet onto the shiplift and be lowered partially into the water to begin the process of swelling the planking to render the hull watertight.

The Morgan, the last remaining wooden whaling ship and the oldest American commercial vessel still in existence as well as a National Historic Landmark, is slated to be re-launched on July 21 and embark on its 38th voyage, a tour of historic New England ports in the spring of 2014.

Workers at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard crank on a series of hand winches to roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013, in Mystic.